Automatic radio program selector



Se t. 13 1938.

P R. H. VERKINS 2,130,164

AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Original Filed Nov. 25, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 13, 1938. R. H. VERKINS AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Original Filed'Nov. 23, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 13,-1938. R. H. VERKINS 2,130,164

AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Original Filed Nov. 25, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 L dfllflfdww L anoint,

Sept-l3, 1938. R. H. VERKINS AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Original Filed Nov. 23, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 BGBOB IIQBU ego $2 w INVENTOR 0% y M ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1938. i R. H. VERKINS 2,130,164

AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Original Filed Nov. 23, 1,933 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Gym-m Sept. 13, 1938. R. H. VERKlNS I 2,130,164

AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Original Filed Nov. 25, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 13, 1938. R. H. VERKINS 2,130,164

AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Original Filed Nov. 23, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 avvuntoz Sept. 13, 1938. R. H. VERKINS AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Original Filed Nov. 25, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 hwen w' I 6km;

Sept. 13, 1938. "R. H. VERKINS 2,130,164

AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Original Filed Nov. 23, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Zhwentor Sept. 13, 1938. R. a. VERKINS r 2,130,164

AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Original Filed Nov'. 23, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 Sept. 13, 1938., R. H. VERKINS.

AUTOMATIC RADIO PROGRAM SELECTOR Original Filed Nov. 23, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 I Sept. 13, 1938. R. H. VERKINS 2,130,164

AUT OMAT I C RADI 0 PROGRAM S ELECTOR Original Filed Nov. 23, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 'f'fl RADIO 5 ET ammq Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application November 23, 1933, Serial No. 699,452 Renewed May 24, 1937 32 Claims.

My invention relates to automatic radio program selectors and has for its object to provide means whereby any radio receiver can have predetermined selected settings made covering any of a group of stations and selected periods of time over a day of a week, or in which such predetermined setting for selected program as to stations and times may be continued from week to week without re-setting, all in combination with means whereby said several selected programs, at the times and over the stations predetermined and set on the apparatus, will be automatically tuned in and the proper or suitable volume of reception be set, successively from program to program throughout the entire-range of selected settings. p

The invention consists in the combination of several different sets of instrumentalities for effecting the above broadly-stated objects and purposes of the invention. These instrumentalities are: First, a series of manually operated actuating devices sufllcient in number and so arranged as to provide an actuating device for any selected station at any predetermined time (quarter hourly, halt hourly or hourly) which may be desired, together with conveniently positioned manually operative means preferably appearing on the front of the radio casing whereby suchsettings may be simply and easily made; second, to provide a power-driven timing actuator to move the said setting device and thereby to cause it to actuate the instrumentalities for tuning in the selected station and setting the volume thereof; third, to provide in combination with the tuning means of a radio receiver a power-driven member connected to positively operate the tuning means in combination with means for positively stopping and holding the movable member at a point in its movement determined by the selected station such that said station will be positively and precisely tuned in; fourth, to provide a single operating member having adjustable parts corresponding to the several stations of the whole group of stations from which selection is to be made which member has connection with the volume control of the radio receiver and is rendered operative to set said volume control by the stopping of the tuning means; fifth, the various instrumentalities for tuning in selected stations at predetermined times and setting the volume ofreception therefor, are associated with signal means such that a visual signal appears for a program to be selected and tuned in.

In reference to the first of the above features of the invention, it is an object of my invention to provide a manual means for conveniently selecting and setting actuators for any series of programs over time intervals for a day or a week, and in any of a group of stations available to 5 the operator, and associated with the manually operated devices for setting the actuators are also manually operative devices for manually cancelling any such setting as may be desired. These devices embody a movable holding member specifically a drum, provided with transverse and longitudinal rows 'of actuating members to be set, the transverse rows indicating time intervals and the longitudinal rows indicating stations, in combination with a device adapted to be moved longitudinally over the longitudinal rows and transversely along the transverse rows, the iongitudinal movements being effected by a manual member applied to a dial carrying time interval indications, and the transverse movements being effected by a manual member applied to a dial indicating stations to be selected.

In reference to the second of the above features of the invention, it is an object of my invention to provide a power device, specifically a pulsator motor driving operating members which rotate in timed relation, for example, one member which rotates in exactly one minute and a second member which rotates in exactly thirty minutes, with means on the one minute member adapted to engage means positioned by the thirty minute member to actuate the movable member of the first feature of the invention whereby if a station and time is set other instrumentalities are rendered active to tune in the station at that time and set the volume therefor. These timed devices also under those conditions actuate or render active means for putting the said indicator out of position or into inoperative position, and means for eflecting signaling operations as hereinafter pointed out.

In reference to the third of the above features of the invention, it is an object of my invention to provide in combination with tuning means of a radio receiver a movable member having thereon a multiplicity of elements corresponding to a. selected group of stations each element having a stop positioned thereon relative to the movementv of said member at a point corresponding to the tuning position of the member for a given station, together with a movable device for each of said station representative elements which is set for time andstation by the means hereinbefore referred to so as to be automatically actuated into position to engage the stop on that 56 movable member and terminate the movement of the member at the exact point where through its connection with the tuning means of the radio receiver it has reached the tuning position of the selected station, together with power means for moving the member and tuning means of the radio receiver.

In reference to the fourth of the above features of the invention, it is an object of my invention to provide in combination with the volume control of a radio receiver a movable member adapted to operate in its movements said volume control, to fix on said member a multiplicity of stop members each corresponding to one of the stations or the group controlled by the device, and each adapted to be adjustably positioned so that when it operates to stop movement of the member it will have moved the volume control to set the correct volume for that station, in combination with means, which may be associated with the tuning stop devices, for being brought into position for the selected station to be engaged by said adjusted stop and thus set the tuning means of the radio to the precise proper tuning position for the selected station.

In reference to the fifth oi the above features of the invention, it is an object of my invention to provide visual signals, which may be in the form of bright lights showing just before a selected program will start to call attention to the imminence of such program and permit it to be continued or cancelled as desired.

Other objects of the invention consist in providing various details of construction whereby the operation and functioning of the several features oi invention above-outlined may be effected either manually or automatically as called for so as to produce accurate, certain and always dependable results. It is to be understood, however, that the specific embodiment of'structural features herein described are not to be regarded as limiting the invention or specific parts thereof to such precise details, but that modification and substitution of equivalent structures are contem plated within the scope and purpose oi the invention.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will be more particularly pointed out in the specification and drawings, and its novel features are particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, illustrating an application my invention in one form- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an automatic controller for a radio receiver set;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a similar view from the other side shown partly broken away;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top plan View, partly in section, and partly broken away;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail on line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail section on line 1-! of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse section on line 8--8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 99 of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a section on line lit-iii of Figure 4;

Figure 11 is a sectional elevational View on line ll-H of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail elevational view of a cancelling device;

Figure 13 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail of a. pin-tension arrangement;

Figure 15 is an enlarged detail elevational view of al'pin;

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmental plan view of a'tensioning device;

Figure 17 is an enlarged sectional view on line il-Il of Figure 3;

Figure 18 is a section on line l8--l8 of Figure 4;

Figure 19 is a detailed perspective view oi. a. portion of Figure 18, looking from the top thereof;

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the cancelling mechanism;

Figure 21 is a detail cl a shaft locking mechanism, certain parts being shown exaggerated;

Figure 22 is an enlarged detail view of a switch; and

Figure 23 is a wiring diagram.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the specification and in the various figures of the drawings, in which I indicates conventlonally, a radio set in connection with which operates my automatic program selector designated in general by the numeral 2 and carried by a support 3. The different sets of instrumentalities referred to in the preceding statement of invention will now be described in detail and in the order stated.

Manually operated setting means in order to accomplish manual setting of the machine for any selected radio station at any predetermined time, I provide a drum il which best shown in Fig. 5 has a hub I04 mounted for rotation around a shaft I02 by power driven means to be described later which operates in connection with an internal ring gear 46 carried by the drum. The periphery SI of the drum 41 in the embodiment as shown in Fig. l is divided into seven day sections 52 and seven night sections 53, the day sections including the time between 'i A. M. and 10 P. M'. while thenight sections include the remaining time of a twenty four hour period. The surface of the drum 4! is provided as shown in Fig. 2 with ten circumferential or longitudinal rows ISA-63 which as will be understood from Fig. 14 are separated by grooves 64, 65, etc., which are beveled as shown in this figure. There are twenty oi. these grooves and strung tightly therein so as to lie in the bottom of the beveled grooves are fine piano wires 66, 61 etc. Each 01' the circumterentially disposed rows in each oi! the day sections 52 has thirty bores 10 extending entirely through the periphery of the drum. As will be understood from Fig. 16, the periphery of each bore at op posite sides thereof lies in the path of the piano wires as at 10' and 10". Seated in each bore is a pin I I, the opposite sides of which are flattened as indicated at 12 and 13 in Fig. 15.

Every pin, of which there are thirty in each row of each day section, is provided with a transverse groove 14, at the lower end of its flattened portion 12 on one side (Fig. 15) and a similar in one of the pins II.

said pins are alternately reversed in their respective bores and columns. A groove 14, will be engaged by a wire 88, at the bottom of the flat.- tened surfaces of each pin, the adjoining pin .groove being engaged .by wire 81, this arrangement being reversed on each adjoining pin thruout its circumferential columns 88. These pins areadapted to be pressed back and forth in the bores; as will be later more fully explained. However, the spring tension of said piano wire will cause a click ng sound, as a pin is moved in one direction or the other, which click will signify to a person operating the device that the pin is moved to its desired position. Each of these pins is provided with a tapered inner end I5, and a ball-headed outer end II, for purposes which will later appear.

Every pin II in each circumferential row, 54 to 83 respectively, represents one and the same radio station, as indicated on a station indicating dial I8 (Fig. 1) upon which selected stations may be written by the user. These selected stations indicated on this dial, may be changed at will. Every group of pins H" in the peripheral columns represents days of the week, as indicated on a day indicating dial I8 (Fig. 1) wherefore, each pin represents a radio station, and a halfhour period of the day. These pins are, as above explained, movable back and forth in their bores through the periphery of drum 41. When moved in for selecting a program, their tapered ends lie in the path of a station selecting device 88 mounted within the drum (Figs. 9, l2 and 13) and at the proper time will operate said device to bring in the desired station, as will later hereinafter more fuily appear. In order to move these pins in toselect a desired station and program, I provide a revoluble arm 8| (see Fig. having a right-angular head 82, through the terminal 88, of which a push-pin 84 operates. On the inner end of the pin is a concave socket 85, which,

when pushed down upon the ball-end ll of a pin II, will center itself directly over the pin.

Pivoted at 88 on said head 82, is a bell-crank lever 81, one arm 88 of which rests upon the head 880i pin 84 in order that when the arm 88 of said crank is drawn rearward by a link 8|, the arm 88 will push in the pin 84 to, in turn, push The link 8I is connected on one arm 82 of a' bell-crank lever 88, pivoted at 84 to the member 8|, and its other arm 85 is connected to a link 88 which, in turn, is connected at its other end to the arm 81 of a third bell-crank lever. 88, the other arm 88 of which lies'against the outer'end I88 of a push-rod I8I,

, slidably mounted in a tubular shaft I82, upon the end I83 of which the arm 8|v is clamped.

The shaft I82 is rotatably and slidably seated in the axle I84 of drum 41. Through said rotatable and slidable action of shaft I82, the pin 84 may be shifted to position directly in alinement with any pin II in the drum 41, as the head 82 rotates around the periphery of said drum and moves transversely thereof. A spring I85 coiled around H8 and H4 on shaft III. Gear II4 drives gear I I8, fixed on huh I II, which hub is keyed through slots ill to shaft I82, but through which hub said shaft I82 is slidable, there being preferably two slots similar to slot II8 shown on Fig. 5 on opposite sides of shaft I82. Also fixedly mounted on hub III is a relatively wide fibre gear II8 upon the teeth of which a spring-pressed ball I28 bears, (Fig. 4) to check the movement of said last gear, and holds arm 8i in proper position. The rotation of knob I88 then, of course, causes the rotation of shaft I82, and with it the arm 8i, whereby the push-pin 84 may be located above any one of the pins II in a circumferential row, this location representing a certain half-hour period of the day; thus each pin II not only represents a particular radio station, and a day of the week, but also a'half-hour period of the day.

The dial H8 is fixed on tubular shaft I88, as also is gear I2I, behind said dial, and gear I22 at the other end of shaft I88. The gear I2I is in mesh with a gear I 28, rotatable on outer end I24 of shaft II5. Fixed to gear I28, is a smaller gear I25, in mesh with a gear I28, fixed on a hub I2! on which the day-indicating dial I8 is also fixed, and which is rotatable upon a shaft I28, on the outer end of which is fixed a panel I28 and indicating hand I88 operating in conjunction with dial I8. Fixed on the inner end of shaft I28. is a gear I3I in mesh with a gear I32 fixed on shaft II5. Gear I22 is in mesh with internal ring-gear 46 of the drum 41, and is operated through the operation of said drum. The gearratio between knob I88 and panel I28, and dial H8 and I8 is seven to one. Knob I88 is fixed on sh'aft I81 and at the other end of shaft is fixed gear I I I. Gear I I8 is fixed to gear H4, and both these are fixed to shaft H5. At the opposite end is fixed gear I32, which meshes with gear I3I, which is fixed to shaft I28 along with panel I28 at shafts outer end. Panel I28 contains indicating hand I38. Thus, by manually revolving knob I88, arm 8| on shaft I82 rotates, and panel I28 revolves also.

Now, in order to shift head 82 of arm 8I transversely of the drum, across the rows 54, 55, etc. of pins II, to select certain radio stations for reception, I provide the fixed dial I8, through which a shaft I88 freely rotates by means of a manually operated knob I84, upon which is fixed an indicating hand I35 co-acting with said dial to indicate the location of a radio station marked thereon. To the inner end of the shaft I88 is fixed a pinion I38, operating upon a segmental gear I3I from the pivotal point I88 of which a right-angular a'rm I88 projects. The free end I48 of this arm is pivotally and slidably attached to the free end I of a reciprocating arm I42, through a pin and slot connection I48. The end I44 of arm I42 is pivoted by a pin I45 to the frame member I48. The end I" of slide shaft I82 is fixed to arm I42, near its end I, by a pivot clamp connection, I48, whereby, reciprocating movement of arm I42, will slide shaft I82 back and forth to impart a similar movement of 84 approximately over a certain pin II, which represents the radio station to which the indicating hand I85 points on dial I8.

The-above operation may be performed either before or after the day and hour indices have been adjusted, as previously mentioned. The same pin will be located by arm 8| in either case; When the push-pin 84 is located over a pin 1 I, indicating the station selected on dial I8,

This arrangement brings the push-pin lever III, the arm I58 of which is connected through a link I58, the other end of which is connected to the arm. I51 of a bell-crank lever 858. to the arm I58 of which is connected 9. link I80, (Fig. 5) engaging the arm- I8I of a bellcrank lever E82. pivoted at N3 and the other arm I84 of which is held into contact at all times with the end I65 of the push-rod i0I, operating through shaft I02, through which connection the pressing down oi lever I50 will cause lever arm it! to push rod IiiI against lever arm 89, which operates push-pin 84, as previously explained.

However, just prior to this action, the link I81, attached to the protruding heel I88 of lever I58, has drawn a centering pin I88, to which the other end of the link i8? is attached, against the centering bar fllii, having a. scalloped edge ill, against said edge with sufilcient force to cause the point of said pin 189 to slide into one of the notches Hi2 along said edge, through pressing upon the sides of the arc of the scallops lit, whereby the action of the centering pin will be to cause the arm M2 to slide, together with its parts, including H32. in order that the pin will enter the nearest notch 612, thus moving shaft I02. to exactly center the push-pin 84 over the pin 15 to be Mted upon thereby. The last mentioned action is a method of exactly centering push-pin 34 over pin ii when and if the operator has not set hand ltd in exact position over a station indi cated on dial it. Centering-pin 18 will correct such slight errcr. The bar i 13 is fixed to the frame members 3 and 3".

Power driven timing actuator 0 meshes with, a gear 1' secured to a shaft which also has secured thereto a gear 1" meshing with a gear 8, the gear ratio being such that a reduction gearing is provided to drive the gear 8 one revolution per minute. The gear 8 as shown in Fig. 18 is secured to the lower end of a shaft 233 to the upper end of which a ratchet clutch member 234 is secured by a screw 235. The clutch member 234 cooperates with a complementary clutch member 238 slidably attached to the lower end of a shaft 9 by means of a pin 231 on the shaft operating in a slot 238 in the clutch member 238. It is apparent therefore that when the clutch members 234 and 239 are in engagement with each other, the gear 8 will drive the shaft 8, but when the clutch member 2381s lifted by means to be described later, the gear 3 will rotate without rotating the shaft 8. The shaft 9 is provided with a worm I 8 which as shown in Fig. 4 meshes with a gear II which in this particular embodiment is timed to make one revolution every half hour. By referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be understood that the gear iI is so cured to a shaft 2| which through suitable reduclng gears It, I3 and 14 rotates a gear I5 secured to a shaft 23 once every twenty four hours. A knob I'i shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is secured to a ing the knob I1, the shaft 8 may be manually turned to set the device for time. Secured to the shaft 2I which carries the gear II is a thirty minute dial 22 (see Fig. 1) to indicate proper setting of the machine. Mounted on the outer end of the shaft 23 which carries the twenty four hour gear I5 is a twenty four hour dial 24 for assisting the operator to properly set the machine.

Secured to the gear wheel II near the periphery thereof is a pin 25 (Figs. 4 and 19) which once in every thirty minute period engages the beveled end 28 of a lever 21 pivoted centrally at 28, thus lowering the end 29 of said lever and a rod 30 connected thereto. The lower end of the rod 30 as shown in Fig. 18 terminates in a right angular foot M which after twenty-nine revolutions of the gear 8 is lowered by the action just referred to, into the path oi a pin 32 carried by the gear 8,, whereby upon the thirtieth revolution of said gear, the pin 82 "will trip the rod 30 thereby operating a lever 33. This lever as shown in Fig. 18 is centrally pivoted at 34, one end 35 thereof being connected to the rod 30 and the other end 36 being connected to one end 31 of a link 38, the other end of which as shown in Fig. 1'1 is connected at St to one end of a lever 18 iulcrumed at 1! to the frame member 249. The other end oi the lever 40 is pivoted to a pawl 33 having an end i iwhich normally en gages the teeth 45 of the ring gear &8 on the drum M. The movement of the pawl It moves the drum, the distance between successive teeth 35 which action is repeated each half hour period. The number of teeth is such that the drum will make one complete revolution in one week. The rod 38 is normally held raised by a spring 30' as shown in Fig. 19 and a spring 40' shown in Fig. 17 retracts the lever 40. In order that the drum 41 will move exactly the proper distance with each movement of the pawl 13, a spring pressed ball 28 is carried in a socket 49 supported by a rod 50 as shown in Fig. 4. The ball m engages between adjacent teeth marked 45' and d5".

As previously stated, the one minute gear 8 carries a pin 32 which trips the rod 30 as shown in Fig. 18. As also shown in this figure, the pin 32 travels in the path of the foot I13 of a bar I14, the upper end of which as further shown in Fig. 19 operates through a hole in the end I15 of a lever I16 which end is normally held raised by a coil spring I11 on the pin 28 on which the lever I16 is pivoted. This spring bears upon the arm I19 of the lever I18 so that its end I is held down. The end I80 has an inclined under surface I88 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 19, lying normally in the path of the pin 25 on the half hour gear II whereby through the rotation of the gear II, the pin 25 raises the lever and I80 and lowers the end I16. The bar I14 is thus lowered so that its foot I13 lies in the path of the pin 32 whereby a lever I88 connected to the lower part of the bar 114 as shown more particularly in Fig. 20 and pivoted at I88 will push a link I89 and attached arm I90 of a bell crank I 9! and thereby depress the arm I92 of the bell crank. The depression of this arm will through a connecting link I93 depress the arm i94 of a lever E95 pivoted at I98. The other arm 181 of this lever is connected by a link I98 with the end I99 of a lever 290 pivoted at 2!. The other end 202 of this lever operates upon a link 209 having aright angular end 204 best shown in Fig. 13 and having aihole therein through which a rod 205 passes slidably whereby the rod 205 will be depressed together with a yoke 208 fixed to its lower end.

The upper part of the rod 205 is provided with a head 201 and with a collar 208 between which is a coiled spring 209. This spring is gradually compressed prior to any action of the rod 205 until after a certain compression is reached, it will depress the rod 205 for the purpose of pushing a pin 1] upwardly of the drum 41 with a snap action. This is accomplished by means of a bar 2I0 carried by the yoke 205 as will be understood from Fig. 12 from which it is apparent that such pins H as are in the path of the bar will be pushed out. Since the. bar is always directly above a transverse row of pins corresponding tostations any one of which may just previously have been automatically tuned in, provision is thus made for automatically cancelling or clearing stations after the corresponding pins have once acted. A coil spring 2I2 (Fig. 20) connected the gravity action of the members 203, 209, 205,

205, 213 and 2I0.

Mounted between the stop "I, (Fig. 18) fixed on the link I14 and the end I15 of the lever I19 is a coil spring I92 which normally holds the head of the link I14 against the lever. However a wedge I83 is slidably mounted on a support I83. The wedge is provided with a shank I94 having a knob I84 whereby the wedge may be manually pushed under the foot I85 of the stop IBI. When this is done, the link I14 is held stationary thereby preventing the automatic pushing out of the pins II so that the same program may be obtained week after week without re-setting the pins.

The pin 25 on the half hour gear II furthermore travels in the path of a. lever 2|4 pivoted at 28 (Fig. 4), this lever having a straight lower edge indicated by the dotted line 2l5 in Fig. 19; When the pin 25 is in engagement with this edge, a rod 2I6 attached to the lever is held lifted. The lower end of the rod is attached as shown in Fig. 8 to the arm 2" of a bell crank 2I8 so that the arm 2 I9 thereof is lowered together with a rod 220 attached thereto and to the arm 22I of a bell crank 222 (Fig. 10). A coil spring 223 shown in Fig. 8 normally holds the arms 2 I9 and HI together with the connected rod 220 in raised position. This action is entirely automatic and will be more fully explained later. However in order that the action of lowering the rod 220 may be manually controlled (see Figs. 10 and 11), I connect to the arm 224 of the lever 222, a rod 225 having a slidable connection at 226 with the arm 221 of a lever 228, the other arm 229 of which is provided with a finger plate 230 which may be manually depressed to lift the rod 225. A coil spring 29I on the fulcrum 232 of the lever 228 normally holds the lever in the position shown in Fig. 11.

Normally the machine operates automatically through the action of the synchronous motor 5. However, should the motor be stopped by disconnecting it from its source of energy, it becomes necessary to retime the machine for future operation. In order to do this, it becomes necessary to permit idling of the shaft 9 in order that the timing dials may be reset without interference with other parts of the mechanism. In order to do this, the thirty minute gear II normally driven by the worm I0 of the shaft 9 must be rotated by manual action which is accomplished as previously stated by turning the knob I1 fixed to the shaft 240 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5). The hub 24! of the pulley I 9 is in the form of a ratchet clutch which in one rotating position turns freely upon the shaft 240 through the action of the ratchet end 243 of said hub and a pin 244 (see Fig, 3) on the shaft 240. A spring 245 on said shaft and bearing between the pin 248 and said hub normally presses the latter toward the pin whereby the pulley I6 will rotate with the shaft 240 in one direction, but idles thereon upon turning said shaft in the opposite direction by the knob I1. Thus through operation of the knob I1, the pulleys I6 and 20 and the belt I8 rotate the worm shaft 9 free of the gear 8 and the worm I0 drives the gear I I, which sets the timing mechanism into operation. Since the shaft 240 is slidable through the hub 24| with the pinion 241 on the inner end thereof which is normally disengaged from the ring gear 46 through the action of'the spring 245, it follows that pressing in and turning of said shaft (which disengages it from fixed connection with the pulley I 5), causes the pinion 241 to mesh with the ring gear whereby the drum is driven in one direction only and which in turn through the gear I22 drives the shaft- I08 and with it the dial H0 in connection with which a fixed indicating hand operates. The drum may thus be set to proper time. The same operation drives the gears I.2I, I23, I25,, I26, the hub I21 and the dial 19 with which a fixed indicating hand 249 indicates the day, whereby the dials may be set to the day of the week, and the half hour of the day. It should be recalled that the drum 41 is intended to rotate in one direction only and when operating automatically, it is moved one tooth of the ring gear at a time by the pawl lever 43 which movement occurs once every half hour. However it may be turned in the same direction by the pinion 241. The ring gear in turn operates the gear I22 through the connection of which as previously explained, the hour dial H0 and the day dial 19 are rotated in unison therewith. The

Automatic tuning 'means Supported by the up-right frame 249, (Fig. 8)

upon which the shaft I02 is also supported is a horizontal shaft 250, projecting inwardly of the drum 41, and adjacent the drum rim or periphery (Figs. 9, 12 and 13). Pivotally mounted upon the shaft 250 are a series of arms 25I, one for each of the circumferential rows of pins, 54, 55, etc. The said arms terminate in substantially vshaped presser-feet 2I I, one of each feet directly overlying one of the pins 11 in the transverse rows of pins 1I'. Also pivoted on the shaft 250, are arms 252 and 2530i a yoke 254, the head 255 of which turns down at right-angles thereto, and is in the form of a blade 255 which seats normally suspended within the V's of the said pressen-feet, said yoke having upwardly projecting bearings 251 and 258 which are pivotally connected to the bar 259 of another yoke 250, to the head center of which isfixed a vertical rod 26I, projecting through an aperture in a guide 262,

carried by an arm or said vertical support 249. The upper end of said vertical rod 26! is a socket extension 263 and between the lower end of this socket and its guide, is coiled a spring 264 upon said rod, whereby the yoke 266 and blade 266 are held normally raised out of contact with said presses-feet 2i i. The other arm 255 of the lever its, hes pivoted to its extreme end a rod 266, the end or which operates in the socket 266 over the miner end or the rod 2%, whereby upon raising the fingen-piote MB of said lever We, the rod 266 wili be ioreeti down, and in turn force the rod 255i down, end the blade 256 to press clown all of the presser-feet and in this manner ShOVQOlHJ oin it or pins ii in the path thereof, whereby stations which had previously been selected it pin will be shoved outwardly of the drum, oosely cancelling same again for selecting stations and tone. This cancelling or on." out the pins may be done as much ambo-lent minutes prior to the time of enter. it lost 57 selected program.

so nivotally mounted. upon the 25E}, srr oi lever arms rniiar to lever shown 3 eeciz Fiiii2=lilfilllif term and Eli as site n in dotted ll carrying no,

Eli and 2" consented to the c" r o time 3 e ion above inst lever ose. the s lie melt-ion s Q oi receiver moi. one

to its used automation I wiierennon, the serew onset i seem reecly for i259. nod i"- oseci,

just permanent selected stations hereafter automatically. The station identification letters are placed on the dial 18 in relative position with the disc 89. The entire method of finding new stations for the device will later be explained.

Fixed to the inner end of the shaft 29!, is a crank-plate 294 having a crank 295 which has pivoted to it a connecting link 298 for operating" the radio receiver dial Elli through a lever 298 which is fixed to the shaft 299 of the rcguiar radio receiver dial 529i, whereby, when the shaft 9l rotates, it rotates said radio receiver dial therewith; thus, as the finger 288 bears upon the periphery of the disc 283 when it drops into the slot 298, the said radio receiver dial has been rotated to a point where it tunes in the station represented by the disc and the finger 288 has dropped into said slot, whereby the disc will he held in that position until the pin on the gear it has passed under the surface tit? of the lever 2M thus releasing the hell-crank lever 2 ill and bringing the rod up and under the arms 2% removing the 288 from slot on the disc This action of rod will again allow manual operotion the regular radio receiver dial.

Automatic volume commZ means Blow, in order that the machine 10 the proper volume To; is provided a shaft i", which also ca Unoi. the volume regulator set screws 53th:.

provided with foot presently to be rep upon a pin 2 Pdiate ooi lecti. sh of the radio ec normally ire x r tn rt voinrne centre the member e member (It the volume control knob of the retro iiaft to the ttil, to en seement whereby, throng. n e s is O The stop will always. hold the sit in the some position with volume turned mi. The

tension of the spring 333' is. greater than the friction created at slide 331, so that the volume knob may be moved either way inanually without lifting the foot 333 of the member 332 off of the pin 233'. A spring 331", compressed between the member 331 andthe nut 331' produces necessary friction for the grip or slide on the mem- 1 rotates on'shaft 23l.

ber 333. I

In order to. absorb any shock of action to theshaft 333 by the spring 333', I connect a piston rod 313 to the lever 335, which rod operates a piston 3 in a cylinder 3l5 having a pin-hole 3i6 in its lower end, whereby the action of the shaft 333 is gently controlled. The piston 3i5 is pivotally mounted as at 3l 5' in order that it may rock with the crank-arm 333.

Mounted on the regular radio set frame is a movable disc 3I3, having a manually operated lever 3" to be used for seasonal volume changes as well as loud or soft volume. The regular radio receiver volume unit is mounted on the disc 3" and the unit may be partially rotated without moving the shaft 3i2. This lever adjustment is operated manually by the operator and affects all automatically controlled volumes. The lever 313' is held in the different adjusted positions by friction which is greater than the turning effort or the radio receiver volume knob.

The disc shaft 23l (Figs. 9 and 11) is driven by a gear 3 fixed on its outer end and through a gear 323 driven by a shaft 323. A half-gear32l is driven by a gear 322 on a rotatable and slidable shaft 323, which shaft, in turn, is driven by a pulley 323oover which is trained a belt 325, which belt is also trained over a pulley 326 on a stub shaft'321 carried on a frame member 323 and having fixed thereto, a gear 323 in mesh with a pinion 333 on a shaft 33l, also carrying the worm gear 332 driven by the worm 333. The worm 3.33 is part of a governor shaft 333 having flexible connection with a shaft 335 of an induction motor 336, whereby the shaft 23i is rotated through the turning of the induction motor. On

the outer end of the shaft 23l is a tubular hub.

331, to which the half-gear 32i is fixed, and Mounted on the hub 331 is a coil spring 333, one end of which spring is fixed to the frame of the device, and the other end of which 1 is fixed to the gear 32i, which spring maintains said gear in normal rest position. On

the opposite side of the gear 32i is a blade spring 333, Fig, 11, which spring is fixed to the gear 32 I,

and the head 333 of the spring is turned outward so as to engage the flange 3 of the hub of the pulley 323 in its path. 332 is a light coil spring between the frame and hub-flange 33i normally holding the shaft 323 in outward position, so as to engage its fixed pin 333 with a ratchet hub 333. when the pulley 323 is driven inone direction by the motor 333, turning gear 322 (fixed to hub 333) which meshes with half-gear 32l, it raises the spring 333 in the path of the flange 3, the head 333 presses inwardly on the flange and shaft, to snap the pin 333 out of the ratchet 333, and slide over to engage the ratchet hub 335 of the gear 323, thereby driving the gear 3i3. The hubs 333 and'335 are held from sliding by frame members 33l' and 33!", permitting turning motion only, while their shaft 323 has both sliding and turning motion. Normally the pin 333 in the shaft 323 is held by the spring 332 :against the ratchet hub 333 of the gear 322,

whereby, in rotating in one direction, the pin 333 will pick up the ratchet and rotate the gear 322 with said shaft. 323, whereby the half-gear 32i is rotated, to bring the spring head 333 into relation with the flange 33l, as above stated. When the pulley 323 is moved toward the gear 322, the

shaft 323 is moved forward so that the said pin 333 releases the ratchet of 333, and engages the ratchet hub 335 to rotate its gear 323 whereby the gear 313, with its,shaft 23l, are rotated and move the connections to the regular radio receiver station dial. Pivoted to the gear 32i is an arm 333, having a slot 331 in which the pin 333 reached this position through operation of the half-gear 32i, the governor 353 acting on the shaft 333 has expanded and carried forward its terminal collar 353, and with it the arm 355 of a lever 356,which lever has another arm 351 which engages the spring 353 on the gear 32i, and as this spring passes the arm 351, compressing the spring until the head 353 of the spring has passed and springs out over the terminal of the member 351, the gear 32i is held temporarily against reverse action. At the time the arm 351 is engaging under the spring 353, the arm 363 of the lever 356 connected to 36l at the lower end of a lever 362, is moving said lever upon its fulcrum 363 in order that its other end 333 will push forwardly upon the link 365 which is connected to 366 to a bell-crank lever 361., the terminal of the arm 363 of which is operated into the path of a- 3 to permit outer movement of the shaft 323.

The telescopic arm 333 is at this time allowed to extend itself as the half-gear 32i falls to normal or rest position. Just prior to the release of said spring head 333 from the flange 3, a primary kick occurs through the action of a kick member 313 against the inner end of the shaft 323, the connections of which will be presently explained.

At this time the governor further expands to drive the collar 353 toward the motor to operate the member 356 to move its arm 363 to operate the lever 362 pulling rearward the rod 365 operating the bell-crank 331 to release its arm 333 from the pin 363, permitting the shaft 333 to fall to allow the-arms of unit 352 to also fall, whereby one of the arms 332 engages a pin 233' on one of said discs 233.

As the shaft 333 falls, it carries with it a lever 31l, moving said lever in the path of the end 312 of a lever 313 having a hump 313 which presses against the flange 3, and there completely kicks out the shaft 323 bringing the pin 333 completely out of engagement with the ratchet of the hub 335, the shaft now standing in neutral position. A further downward move ment of the arm 3" disengagesthe member 312 which is pivoted at 315 and which lever is again thrown into its normal position by means of its spring 318.

The link 365 is provided with a centrally located annular groove 371' which is engaged by an.

arm 318 of a bell-crank lever 319 pivoted at 330,

I the outer arm 38l of said bell-crank lever having pivotal connection at 382 with a link 383 having a rubber bumper 334 on its free end, said bumper normally standing in the path of one of the stops 385 and 385' on the crank-plate 294, whereby said plate is kept from stopping on dead-center when operating the radio receiver dial manually. When the link 365 is again moved forward (by the action of the induction motor), the bell-crank lever 313 will draw the bumper 384 out of the path of said stops 385 to permit complete rotation of the crank plate 294. Located on side of frame 31" and behind rubber bumper 334, is an electrical switch controlling the circuit to the volume unit 3!? of the radio set. When the bumper 384 is drawn out of the path of the stops 385 and 305', said bumper opens the electrical circuit supplying current to the volume unit 3H. Therefore, there will be no radio noise whatever, as the radio receiver dial is moved from station to station automatically.

Fixed on the upper surface of the arm 360 is an upstanding bracket 388, to which is connected 9. link 38?, engaged with the arm 388 of the bellcrank lever 389, fulcrumed at 393 and having its arm 8M hearing against the plate 392 depending from the lever 35!, which, as before stated, is fixed to the shaft 30C", whereby the pressure of said arm 3% against the piate 392, will move the shaft 300 suiilciently to disengage the foot 306 from the pin 283' at the time the motor 336 first starts intooperatlon. In order that the unit 352 will he slid over to a position to allow one member 3% to fall on a pin 289' (to which the member 302 will rest on a pin 289 of a cer tain; station disc), I provide a plate 393, mounted on the frame 305, and having a turned end-face 3S5, egainstwhich the arm 3% slides, on only its downward movement (wi'ien and if pin 285 has been moved out from under the foot tilt) to slide the shaft tilt and its parts outwardly so as to clear the pins 282i if and when the radio receiver dial is manually operated. This of the unit 352 happens only when the radio re celver is moved in either direction, (after having been seiautomaticaily) causing the pin 289 to slip out from under the foot 3% oi the part 3E2. On upward movement oi the unit 352, the arm Sill is another path than that in which it ieitwhere, on its nearly completed travel upward, it strikes the v-arm 396 oi V-member 3&5, causing the arm 39! to slide again back to a position to be ready to allow the members 362 to strike a pin 289 in the falling action. Fixed to the trams (Fig. 21 is a bracket 339, carrying a hall and socket tilt, the ball of which engages one oi the grooves to! or 0! on the shaft M0, whereby said shaft is held against occidental movement in either direction.

When a pin ll moves under a i -member 25 i,

bear down on the edgei lill ofafjswitch-mlate 40A having end pins 00 and 408, upon which it is pivotally mounted. This action causes a lever dbl on the member 489 to force down a link M28 connected to the end Q09 of a lever t it fulcrumed at 4, inturn forcing up the short end 412 of said lever to raise the link 3, which actuates a brake 414 on the brake-drum 4|! on the shaft of themotor 336, whereby the motor shaft will be stopped almost simultaneously with the cutting oil of current to the motor, in order to quickly stop its action on the governor 353.

In order to again bring the member 404 back to its normal position, I provide a link 416, one end of which is pivoted at 6' to the lever 40,

'(Fig. 17) and the other end of which is connected to the arm 4" of a bell-crank lever 4| 3, (Fig. 10) to the other arm 9 of which is attached a link 420, having its end 42I flattened and slotted to form a fork 422, which rides a pin 423 on the U-shaped lever 424 pivoted to an inverted U-bracket 425 fixed to a frame member 423. Fixed to the end of the member 404, (Fig. 10), is an arm 428 having a fork-end 429, also engaging the pin 423, whereby when the link 420 operates the lever 524, said lever also swings the arm 423 to again raise the switch-plate 404 to normal position. Attached to the bracket 420 is a coilspring 430, the other end of which is attached to the head of the U-Jever 424 whereby said switch-plate 604 will be held under tension in either of its positions. Carried on the member 466 are a series of leaf springs 43!, the free ends of whichseat under the lugs 402 of members 233, whereby, if cheer the terminals 28! is depressed and one member 283 pushed down, moving the edge 403 from under the lugs of all other members 283, said springs will hold the idle memhers 283 raised against gravity. Another function of these springs is to assist in raising the edge 432 of the member 04 to lower its edge 403. A stop 133 is provided to limit movement of the U=member 424. Pivoted above the volume control member 352, is a bar 434 having fingers I which may be turned in or out of the path of the members 392, whereby, if in the path of the turned-up head 30 of said members, the bar will he tilted up to break a circuit, disconnecting the e. rial from the radio set. This is done when a iocal or nearby station interferes with proper reception of automatic programs, (corresponding with the .lloeal l istance switch on most conventional receivers). This bar 436 is provided on one end with an arm M4 so positioned that when he bar normally swings down, by gravity,

the spring switch-member 335 will close the aerial circuit to the radio receiver.

Etectrical circuits and visual signal means up the electrical circuits which control the machine, (Fig. 23) it will be noted that there are two principal circuits 437 and 38, and two minor circuits 438 and $40. Taking up circuit i3? and tracing it through from. the junction block till, through which service energy is received from the positive and negative wires 442 M3, from the post M4 on the block Ml, the wire 465 leads to the motor 0, through the motor, haul: through the wire 440 to the negative post Ml; thus, the synchronous motor E, which controls all of the timing mechanism heretofore described, receives its energy. The second circult 438 starts at the post 444 leads through the wire 448 to the regular radio receiver switch 440. through which switch the automatic action of the entire machine is also controlled, as said switch 445 must be closed to pass current to the other switches to be presently referred to. From the switch 9, the wired ieads to a binding post GM, and thence through the conductor 2 

